Five Tricks To Find Joy This Holiday Season.

If you answer is yes, keep scrolling for a few tricks of how to stay sane.

1) Be Here Now!

Be here now.
Ram Dass, Be Here Now

When you eat, focus on eating.

When you cut carrots, concentrate on cutting carrots.

When you wash your hands, focus on washing your hands.

In conversation, listen, instead of thinking of what to say next.

Clap your palms, snap a finger and bring yourself to a present.

A yoga practice can aid your journey towards a gift of “being present.” Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to spend hours in meditation and contorting your body. A five-minute simple routine can just do the trick (click here for a sample practice).

There are many ways to conduct your life. Whether you are with your family or decided not to observe the holiday – it is your choice. But, once you made a decision, stay present during this holiday season.

2) Get More Sleep.

Perhaps, you can skip a late night show or give up some Facebook time?

Sleep is essential to your health and well-being. You lose focus, become irritable, and can’t function in the world if you don’t get enough sleep.

Also, sleep deprivation can lead to obesity and depression. Take your life’s inventory.

Brian Johnson recommends a digital sunset. You completely shut down your electronic input and remove all electronics from your bedroom some time before you go to sleep.

A lot of times you think that you are hungry, but you might be just thirsty.

Based on numerous studies the plant-based diet is optimal for health and well-being. However, it is very easy to overeat even with healthy foods. Overeating leads to obesity and causes inflation and arthritis. Obesity can lead to knee arthritis.

In summary, when you overeat, your body’s ability to turn off the hunger switch is disabled. So, a hormone called leptin is produced. You hunger switch is overwritten, and your brain can’t differentiate from “hunger” to “full” signal. As a result, you eat more and more contributing to this vicious cycle.

Hormones that are the causes of obesity seem to act negatively on cartilage health. The good news is that you reduce your leptin levels and therefore the potential of leptin knee arthritis by short-term fasting (24-72 hours) perhaps after the holidays!

What is one action you can take today to optimize your food intake?

4) Take a Bath.

Bathing in water has been equated with good mental and physical health since the ancient times.

Hot bath raises body temperature, which signals your body to rest. For an even more relaxing bath, add a few drops of lavender essential oil or a two cups of Epsom Salt. Soak for 20 minutes.

5) Find Your Inner Child

Incorporate fun and challenging activities into your routine.

Not all of us were lucky to have a happy childhood. But:

It is never too late to have a have a happy childhood!

You can be fun, fearless, adventurous, and silly. The inner child is a part of you who wants to dance, play in the snow and believe in magic!

Remember: We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.

How can you incorporate more play today?

To conclude, be present, take care of yourself and enjoy this holiday season.

If you feel the “traditional” holiday experience is dragging you down, you might want to consider creating new and healthy traditions. Otherwise,

Thanks for reading!

Please share your thoughts and tricks on how you stay centered during this holiday season.